Civil trial between Hulk Hogan, Gawker, to begin

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Terry Bollea, known as professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, watches potential jurors at the Pinellas County Courthouse, in St. Petersburg, Fla., as jury selection began in his case vs. Gawker Media on Tuesday. Hogan sued Gawker after it published parts of a sex tape the celebrity made with the wife of radio personality Bubba the Love Sponge Clem in 2012.

Terry Bollea, known as professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, left, watches the questioning of potential jurors by attorneys and the judge, right, at the Pinellas County Courthouse, in St. Petersburg as jury selection begins in his case vs. Gawker Media on Tuesday.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Opening statements are scheduled to begin in the civil trial between pro wrestler Hulk Hogan and a popular news website.

Proceedings will start Monday morning in a St. Petersburg courtroom.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, is suing Gawker for $100 million for publishing a sex tape of him and the wife of a Tampa radio personality.

A six-member jury will determine if Gawker violated Hogan’s right to privacy when it published the video of the former professional wrestler having sex with his best friend’s wife. Hogan’s attorneys say it garnered 7 million views.

Hogan said the video was made without his knowledge.

Gawker said the publication was a legitimate scoop because Hogan had talked openly about his sex life before, in forums such as Howard Stern’s radio show.